Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 8:49 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 8:49 p.m.

No charges will be filed against a man who shot and killed two men who law enforcement officials said barged into the shooter's apartment two weeks ago after a verbal and physical altercation between them, according to a State Attorney's Office official.

Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said Wednesday that detectives from the Marion County Sheriff's Office met with them and, based on what was presented to them, they've decided not to file any charges against Eric Christopher Cowley-Bonacker.

Ridgway said the reason for not pursuing any charges against the 28-year-old Silver Springs man was because, under the facts of the case, the shooting was justified under the state's self-defense law.

The castle doctrine law, which has been on the books for years, states that if you are attacked in your home, then you have the right to use whatever force is necessary to defend yourself.

The veteran prosecutor said the castle doctrine law has nothing to do with the stand your ground law.

“I am grateful and proud to say that the law is behind me,” said Cowley-Bonacker, thanking the community for their support.

On shooting the men, Cowley-Bonacker said he wished he hadn't had to make the decision to shoot.

“I was left with a choice I didn't want to make,” he said.

At the time of their deaths, the families of the deceased, though making brief comments about their loved ones, asked the Star-Banner not to call them again.

After talking with detectives following the shooting, Cowley-Bonacker told the Star-Banner, “It was a physical assault,” and “I just had to stand my ground. They weren't stopping. They just kept coming and coming.”

Cowley-Bonacker said Williams and Scott were “vandalizing my vehicle and my home.” If they had just left it at that, no problem, he said, but “they just kept coming at me. I had no choice.”

From the same interview, he said the tiff between him and Williams was ongoing and that some time ago, Williams “robbed me, a strong-arm robbery that I never reported.” He said he legally owns a .45-caliber handgun.

According to detectives and witnesses, around midnight on Oct. 11, Cowley-Bonacker went to Dr. B's Pub at 3602 NE Eighth Place, Ocala, where he saw Williams, with whom he has had an ongoing feud. An altercation ensued, which was broken up by personnel from the pub.

William Hedden, 27, of Ocala, Cowley-Bonacker's friend, told detectives that the he and Cowley-Bonacker went to Dr. B's Pub and that Cowley-Bonacker saw Williams and went inside. Hedden said he suspected there would be an altercation, but by the time he got out of the vehicle to go inside, bouncers had broken up the fight. He said he and Cowley-Bonacker left and went to Cowley-Bonacker's residence.

Hedden said that about 15 to 20 minutes later, they saw a blue Durango SUV pull up and heard a commotion outside and came to the door. He said they saw a man slashing the tires on Cowley-Bonacker's older model Ford F-150 pickup and also saw another man. He said he and his friend stayed inside by the door, but that he threw something at the men to scare them off.

Detectives said the people in the Durango were Williams, Scott, Aldea Moore, 33, of Ocklawaha, and Christopher Hancock, 29, of Prattville, Ala. Williams and Scott had gotten out of the vehicle first.

Detectives said Hedden told them that Cowley-Bonacker fired several warning shots. He said at that point, two other people got out of the Durango, which detectives said would have been Hancock and Moore.

Hedden said two men jumped on Cowley-Bonacker and one man jumped on Hedden, all of which occurred inside the apartment.

Detectives said Jason Batten, 25, Cowley-Bonacker's roommate, joined the fracas and that all the people were skirmishing in a very small space.

Hedden said Cowley-Bonacker shot one of the two men he was fighting with. Hedden said the man who had jumped him then ran to Cowley-Bonacker, and also was shot. Hedden said he went out the back door and took off running, according to reports.

According to other people who detectives spoke with, just prior to the shootings, Williams and Scott approached the front door of Cowley-Bonacker's residence and the two of them and Cowley-Bonacker got into an altercation, which continued inside the apartment before Williams and Scott were forced outside.

Williams and Scott picked up a trash can and broke the front window of the apartment and charged toward the door, witnesses said. Cowley-Bonacker, who had picked up a semi-automatic handgun, fired warning shots. When Williams and Scott continued charging forward and came inside the apartment, another fight ensued, during which Williams and Scott were both shot, the report states.

Rachel Preston, 24, who also was inside the apartment, was not involved.

Detectives said Williams had been shot once in the area of the collarbone and Scott was shot once in the neck.

<p>No charges will be filed against a man who shot and killed two men who law enforcement officials said barged into the shooter's apartment two weeks ago after a verbal and physical altercation between them, according to a State Attorney's Office official.</p><p>Chief Assistant State Attorney Ric Ridgway said Wednesday that detectives from the Marion County Sheriff's Office met with them and, based on what was presented to them, they've decided not to file any charges against Eric Christopher Cowley-Bonacker.</p><p>Ridgway said the reason for not pursuing any charges against the 28-year-old Silver Springs man was because, under the facts of the case, the shooting was justified under the state's self-defense law.</p><p>The castle doctrine law, which has been on the books for years, states that if you are attacked in your home, then you have the right to use whatever force is necessary to defend yourself.</p><p>The veteran prosecutor said the castle doctrine law has nothing to do with the stand your ground law.</p><p>The deceased men, Robert Anthony Williams, 27, of Fort McCoy, and Jeffery Blaine Scott, 33, of Gainesville, entered Cowley-Bonacker's residence at 4744 NE 32nd Lane, the Serenity Apartments, armed with knives, and Cowley-Bonacker used force to defend himself, Ridgway said.</p><p>Cowley-Bonacker was relieved upon hearing the news.</p><p>“I am grateful and proud to say that the law is behind me,” said Cowley-Bonacker, thanking the community for their support.</p><p>On shooting the men, Cowley-Bonacker said he wished he hadn't had to make the decision to shoot.</p><p>“I was left with a choice I didn't want to make,” he said.</p><p>At the time of their deaths, the families of the deceased, though making brief comments about their loved ones, asked the Star-Banner not to call them again.</p><p>After talking with detectives following the shooting, Cowley-Bonacker told the Star-Banner, “It was a physical assault,” and “I just had to stand my ground. They weren't stopping. They just kept coming and coming.”</p><p>Cowley-Bonacker said Williams and Scott were “vandalizing my vehicle and my home.” If they had just left it at that, no problem, he said, but “they just kept coming at me. I had no choice.”</p><p>From the same interview, he said the tiff between him and Williams was ongoing and that some time ago, Williams “robbed me, a strong-arm robbery that I never reported.” He said he legally owns a .45-caliber handgun.</p><p>According to detectives and witnesses, around midnight on Oct. 11, Cowley-Bonacker went to Dr. B's Pub at 3602 NE Eighth Place, Ocala, where he saw Williams, with whom he has had an ongoing feud. An altercation ensued, which was broken up by personnel from the pub.</p><p>William Hedden, 27, of Ocala, Cowley-Bonacker's friend, told detectives that the he and Cowley-Bonacker went to Dr. B's Pub and that Cowley-Bonacker saw Williams and went inside. Hedden said he suspected there would be an altercation, but by the time he got out of the vehicle to go inside, bouncers had broken up the fight. He said he and Cowley-Bonacker left and went to Cowley-Bonacker's residence.</p><p>Hedden said that about 15 to 20 minutes later, they saw a blue Durango SUV pull up and heard a commotion outside and came to the door. He said they saw a man slashing the tires on Cowley-Bonacker's older model Ford F-150 pickup and also saw another man. He said he and his friend stayed inside by the door, but that he threw something at the men to scare them off.</p><p>Detectives said the people in the Durango were Williams, Scott, Aldea Moore, 33, of Ocklawaha, and Christopher Hancock, 29, of Prattville, Ala. Williams and Scott had gotten out of the vehicle first.</p><p>Detectives said Hedden told them that Cowley-Bonacker fired several warning shots. He said at that point, two other people got out of the Durango, which detectives said would have been Hancock and Moore.</p><p>Hedden said two men jumped on Cowley-Bonacker and one man jumped on Hedden, all of which occurred inside the apartment.</p><p>Detectives said Jason Batten, 25, Cowley-Bonacker's roommate, joined the fracas and that all the people were skirmishing in a very small space.</p><p>Hedden said Cowley-Bonacker shot one of the two men he was fighting with. Hedden said the man who had jumped him then ran to Cowley-Bonacker, and also was shot. Hedden said he went out the back door and took off running, according to reports.</p><p>According to other people who detectives spoke with, just prior to the shootings, Williams and Scott approached the front door of Cowley-Bonacker's residence and the two of them and Cowley-Bonacker got into an altercation, which continued inside the apartment before Williams and Scott were forced outside.</p><p>Williams and Scott picked up a trash can and broke the front window of the apartment and charged toward the door, witnesses said. Cowley-Bonacker, who had picked up a semi-automatic handgun, fired warning shots. When Williams and Scott continued charging forward and came inside the apartment, another fight ensued, during which Williams and Scott were both shot, the report states.</p><p>Rachel Preston, 24, who also was inside the apartment, was not involved.</p><p>Detectives said Williams had been shot once in the area of the collarbone and Scott was shot once in the neck.</p>